Atlanta United's first 45 minutes was a period to be proud of, and it looked like they would head into the break against second place Inter Miami with the score tied. But Germán Berterame headed one home with one of the final touches of the first half, sending the match on an entirely different trajectory.
Lionel Messi did the rest, scoring two second half goals to bury the match. A late penalty kick wasn't enough to generate a comeback, and the 5-Stripes fell 3-1 to second place Miami in a deflating result.
What happened
Cautiously, the two sides began proceedings exchanging periods of possession. Miguel Almirón slipped behind the Inter Miami backline for the first chance of the game, squaring the ball to Breel Embolo for a shot that was blocked.
The 5-Stripes were defensively sound through the first 20 minutes, but the visitors weren't giving much space either. The result was a slow, calculated match waiting for an individual to unlock it. It was just the sixth time all season that Inter Miami did not attempt a shot in the first 20 minutes of a match.
Almirón was searching, and Atlanta United's left side was the catalyst for early attacking movements. Embolo was also a crucial hold-up player, backing down defenders, playing connecting passes and drawing fouls.
Lucas Hoyos stood strong on a Lionel Messi free kick from the far right side, punching the ball for a save that started a counterattack for the 5-Stripes in the 41st minute. The ensuing corner fell to Alexey Miranchuk, but the ball hit his hand to stop the attack.
Inter Miami took the lead in the 45th minute after Luis Suárez lofted a ball to the back post. Germán Berterame headed it home, the last touch of the first half. The 5-Stripes had worked and worked to find something, but it was the Herons that took a 1-0 advantage into the break.
Atlanta United got their best chance of the night in the 51st minute when a rogue pass led to a quick break. Embolo found Almirón one-on-one with Dayne St. Clair, who made an unbelievable reaction save with his right leg to deny Atlanta an equalizer.
Messi made a moment all by himself in the 55th minute, and it was 2 for Inter Miami. The league-leading goalscorer cut through defenders, played a couple of one-twos with Berterame, faked a shot and put the ball comfortably past Hoyos to double his team's lead.
Four minutes later, it was the Argentine number 10 to do it again. Inter Miami broke away on the counter from an outside-the-boot pass from Suárez, giving Messi space to run. He dribbled past one defender and dinked the ball into the right side of the net for 3-0.
Atlanta United pushed for a response over the next 10 minutes. In the 69th, it looked as if Miami won a penalty kick from a handball inside the box, but video review ruled the play back for a foul.
The remainder of the match saw Atlanta United push up very high to try and get one back, allowing Miami plenty of space to counterattack.
Matt Edwards stung a strike in the 86th minute that hit the post but bounced back out and away from harm. The 5-Stripes kept going, and substitute Fafa Picault earned a penalty kick against his former team in the 88th minute. His strike was hard and low, and St. Clair's glove couldn't deny it.
The 5-Stripes jumped out after their goal but didn't get another to make the final minutes stressful for the visitors, falling 3-1.
Up next
Atlanta United stays in town, welcoming Chicago Fire to Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday, October 24. The club will celebrate its Pride Night as the 5-Stripes go for a win against a fellow Eastern Conference foe.
